The following is the Boxing Insider notebook for the week of June 23rd to July 1st, covering the comings and goings in the sport of boxing that you might have missed.
Top Rank, Inc filed a federal antitrust lawsuit seeking more than $100 million in damages and an injunction to stop the predatory practices of concert promoter-turned-boxing manager Al Haymon and the investment firm Waddell & Reed.
“Al Haymon and Waddell & Reed are engaged in a sophisticated scheme to gain control of the boxing industry,” said Daniel Petrocelli, lead attorney for Top Rank and one of the nation’s top trial lawyers. “As the lawsuit explains in detail, they are violating federal law, defying state regulators and absorbing significant short-term losses to drive legitimate operators out of the business.”
Amoung the charges alleged:
– Simultaneously managing boxers and promoting fights in violation of the Muhammad Ali Boxing Reform Act passed by Congress in 2000 to protect fighters;
– Forbidding boxers under contract to Haymon from being promoted by Top Rank and other promoters;
– Paying boxers not to spar with fighters promoted by Top Rank;
Oscar De La Hoya Issues Statement:
Golden Boy Promotions Founder and Chairman Oscar De La Hoya released the following statement today in the wake of Top Rank Boxing’s lawsuit against Al Haymon and his affiliated entities.
“I applaud Bob Arum and Top Rank Boxing for stepping up on behalf of fighters not only in their own stable, but all across the sport. Those like Bob and myself who have spent the bulk of their lives around boxing understand that the Muhammad Ali Boxing Reform Act is a crucial piece of legislation that serves to protect boxers and enhance the sport. Golden Boy Promotions will continue to push forward with our own lawsuit to ensure our wonderful sport continues to grow in a competitive, just manner.”
Background on GBP Lawsuit:
On May 6, 2015, Golden Boy Promotions filed a $300 million lawsuit against Al Haymon and his related companies alleging repeated violation of antitrust laws and the Muhammad Ali Boxing Reform Act. The case was filed in Federal Court in Los Angeles.
PBC Responds:
Re: Top Rank, Inc. v. Alan Haymon et al
On behalf of our clients Alan Haymon, Haymon Boxing LLC, Haymon Sports LLC and Haymon Holdings LLC:
The lawsuit filed today by Bob Arum and Top Rank is entirely without merit and is a cynical attempt by boxing’s old guard to use the courts to undermine the accessibility, credibility and exposure of boxing that the sport so desperately needs.
The Premier Boxing Champions series makes boxing free again, by bringing championship boxing to free TV, with a fighter-first promise and a commitment to the fans to restore boxing to the luster of its heyday. The continued success of this effort will far outlast this baseless lawsuit.
Klitschko-Fury Goes to Purse Bid
Tyson Fury (24-0) is the mandatory challenger for Wladimir Klitschko’s (64-3) WBA World Heavyweight Title, but the two sides have yet to come to an agreement for their fight which is supposed to take place in the fall. The WBA has now ordered that a purse bid for the fight will take place on July 6th at the offices of the WBA in Panama, City.
If they are unable to reach an agreement the champion will be entitled to 80 percent of the bid and Fury will be entitled to 20 percent.
Mickey Bey Vacates IBF Lightweight Title
Mickey Bey was scheduled to make a mandatory defense of his IBF Lightweight title in Macau on July 18th against Denis Shafikov, but has instead decided to vacate his title.
Bey won the title with a controversial win over Miguel Vazquez in September of 2014 but has yet to fight since then. Bey also does not have any fights scheduled in the near future.
Gilberto Gonzalez to Take on New Opponent on July 2nd
Golden Boy Promotions’ Gilberto Gonzalez (25-3) was originally scheduled to face John Karl Sosa in the main event of LA Fight Club on July 2nd from the Belsaco Theater in Los Angeles, California, Sosa had to pull out and Hevinson Herrera (17-10-1) will not step in to face Gonzalez in the main event of the evening.
Diego De La Hoya (19-0) is set to face Jose Estrella (14-6-1) in the co-main event of the evening, and Oscar Negrete (10-0) will fight Ramiro Robles (12-3-1) in the opening bout of the night.
Six Boxers Risk Their Undefeated Records on ShoBox on July 17th
On Friday, July 17th ShoBox will celebrate its 14th anniversary with a quadrupleheader live on Showtime at 10 p.m. ET/PT featuring eight promising boxers with a combined record of 125-4-4 with 1 no contest and 75 knockouts.
Six of those fighters are undefeated and will risk their perfect records against each other. The headline fight will be between Antoine “Action” Douglas (17-0) of Washington, D.C. and Istvan Szili (18-0-2) of Frenekndorf, Switzerland in a ten round middleweight bout.
The other bouts to feature unbeaten fighters include Derrick Webster (19-0) facing off against Arif Magomedov (15-0) in a middleweight bout and Adam Lopez (12-0) taking on Eliezer Aquino (17-0) in a super bantamweight bout.
Shumenov vs. Flores Announced for July 25th
Former world champion Beibut Shumenov (15-2) will take on cruiserweight contender and NBC boxing analyst B.J. Flores (31-1) on July 25th on Premier Boxing Champions on NBCSN live from the Pearl at Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas. The co-feature of the evening will be between rising contenders Jordan Shimmell (19-0) and Isiah Thomas (14-0).
“I’m excited to get back in the ring July 25th on NBCSN to be a part of this huge fight,” said Shumenov. “Flores is a good fighter with experience, so I expect a very good, entertaining fight. I am very happy to be fighting in Las Vegas. I am enjoying working with my head coach, Ismael Salas, and my two assistant coaches, Jeff Grmoja and Rodney Crisler. Every day has been productive and I’ve been learning something new.”
“Commentating for PBC is something I enjoy, but boxing is my passion. I am a boxer first,” said Flores. “I look forward to proving myself against a former world champion, an Olympian and a guy who is highly respected and regarded. This is the type of fight that PBC wants. Good competitive fights and that is what this is going to be. I’m very eager to be in a position like this. Beibut is a guy that I had always wanted to fight. He is a very good fighter. There is nothing bad to say about him. It is a great opportunity for me.”
Anthony Ogogo to be Co-Promoted by Team Sauerland and Golden Boy Promotions
Golden Boy Promotions and Team Sauerland have announced that they have agreed to a co-promotional deal for Olympic medalist and undefeated middleweight Anthony Ogogo. Ogogo is currently 7-0 and his next fight, his first fight under his new dual promotional agreement, will be on Saturday, July 18th in Berlin.
On the announcement, Ogogo said: “I am incredibly excited by this new partnership and cannot wait to get back in the ring. I feel privileged to have two of best promoters in World boxing backing me and want to thank them both for helping get to this point. The support Golden Boy have shown me since I signed with them has been amazing and I now can’t wait to repay the faith they’ve shown me in the ring. Kalle and Nisse Sauerland are two of the best promoters in the sport and their enthusiasm to help get me to the very top in the sport has been overwhelming. I now feel fitter than I’ve ever felt and am ready to send a wakeup call to the entire middleweight division.”
